CROSS v BARNES TOWING AND SALVAGE (QLD) PTY LTD & ORS [2005] NSWCA 273

Reported Decision : 65 NSWLR 331

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: CROSS v BARNES TOWING AND SALVAGE (QLD) PTY LTD & ORS [2005] NSWCA 273

HEARING DATE(S): 19 April 2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 18 August 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Handley JA at 68; Beazley JA at 108

DECISION: 1 Appeal allowed with costs; 2 Orders of the Local Court at Lismore dismissing the following charges; (a) Charges that on 24 June 2002 the first defendant contravened s15 and s59 of the Tow Truck Industry Act 1998; (b) A charge that on 24 June 2002 the second defendant contravened s23(1)(c) of the Act ; (c) A charge that on 24 June 2002 the third defendant contravened s15, read with s88, of the Act; set aside; 3 Charges remitted to the Local Court for findings to be made that the offences were proved and for further hearing and determination according to law ; 4 Respondents to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951.

CATCHWORDS: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - freedom of interstate intercourse - freedom of interstate trade and commerce - test to be applied where interstate intercourse occurs in the course of trade or commerce - whether Tow Truck Industry Act contravenes S92 constitution - STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - proper interpretation of reg 69(1) Tow Truck Industry Regulation - meaning of "towing work"

Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997 (NSW) Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act Crimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Tow Truck Act 1973 (Qld) Tow Truck Industry Act 1998 (NSW) Tow Truck Industry Regulation 1999 (NSW)

Attorney General of the Commonwealth v Schmidt (No 1) (1961) 105 CLR 361 Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth (No 2) (1992) 177 CLR 106 Bourke v State Bank of NSW (1990) 170 CLR 276 Castlemaine Toohey Ltd v South Australia (1990) 169 CLR 436 Cole v Whitfield (1988) 165 CLR 360 Cunliffe v The Commonwealth (1994) 182 CLR 272 Finemores Transport Pty Ltd v New South Wales (1978) 139 CLR 338 Hospital Provident Fund Pty Ltd v Victoria (1953) 87 CLR 1 CASES CITED: Hughes v Vale (No 2) (1955) 93 CLR 127 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Wills (1992) 177 CLR 1 Nintendo Company Ltd v Centronic Systems Pty Ltd (1994) 181 CLR 134 Princess Alice (1849) 3 W Rob 138, 166 ER 914 R v Smithers; Ex parte Benson (1912) 16 CLR 99 The Auguste Legembre [1902] P 123 The Baltyk [1948] P 1 W & A McArthur Ltd v State of Queensland (1920) 28 CLR 530